Specifications

TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0
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The climate equipment itself requires an area of 60-65 m
2
, where the tower and sensors will be
installed. However an area of this size is not enough to sit the station appropriately. As described
in the section above, different sensors need to comply with specific distance requirements to
nearest obstacles such as trees, houses and roads (WMO 2008, EPA 1995). Following the
guidelines described above, the first step consists in determining whether the clearing is large
enough to house the station. This will depend on the location of the clearing and what is around
it.
4.3.1.1 Ensure the clearing has the right characteristics.
Following the guidelines above, make sure the clearing is on level ground (not on sloping
ground), not located in a valley or hollow, not located in a swamp or in low areas that hold water
after rain. If the clearing is near a road, make sure it is at least 30 m from it.
4.3.1.2 Measure the height of the tallest obstacle next to the clearing.
Using measuring tape (or a rangefinder) and a clinometer estimate the height of the tallest object
you can see next to the clearing, for example the tallest tree (see http://www.edb.ups-
tlse.fr/equipe1/chave/tree-height-protocol.pdf for a suitable protocol). If the width of the clearing
is not at least 4 times the height of this obstacle then the clearing is too small. Unless this
obstacle can be removed or the clearing expanded, a new clearing needs to be located. If no other
clearings are available then go to section 4.5 (Level 4 siting).
4.3.1.3 Tentative locate the base tower
Position yourself in the approximate center of the clearing, locate the tallest object of height H
(Figure 4A) and:
a) Mark your location. This is the tentative location for the base tower.
b) Measure the distance from this location to the tallest obstacle
c) If the distance is larger than or equal to 4 times the height of the obstacle (4H in
Figure 4A), then proceed to 4.3.1.4, otherwise,
d) Go back to the tentative location and move away from the obstacle until you are
at least 4H meters away from the obstacle.
e) Mark this as your new tentative location for the climate station.
4.3.1.4 Locate the next tallest obstacle
From the tentative location you are, now locate the next tallest obstacle in the clearing with
height T (Figure 4B). Go through steps b) to e) as required until your location is 4T meters away
from the obstacle (Figure 4B,C). Ensure that you are still at least 4H meters away from the first
obstacle.
4.3.1.5 Repeat this process iteratively until you have no more obstacles (Figure 4 D, E), always
insuring that you are keeping appropriate distances to all obstacles. Mark the final
location; this will be the location of the base tower.